US Designates Helium as a Critical Material, Citing Its Importance for Semiconductors
The designation opens federal financing for producers as officials warn helium shortages could disrupt semiconductor manufacturing and other energy technologies.
- On Friday, the U.S. Energy Department designated helium as a critical material, opening federal financing for producers and enabling closer government monitoring of the resource.
- Global supply risks, including export curbs from Qatar and Russia, prompted the move. Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson labeled helium a potential 'single point of failure' for national security.
- The U.S. produced 81 million cubic meters of helium in 2025, representing 43% of the global supply, with 38 million cubic meters exported. Extraction plants operate near capacity, constraining future production.
- Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated the Trump administration aims to reduce reliance on foreign sources while strengthening domestic manufacturing and supporting American jobs. This consolidates the helium supply chain within the United States.
- Greeshma Gadikota, director of the Lenfast Center for Sustainable Energy at Columbia University, noted opportunities for cleaner helium recovery supporting hydrogen production and solid carbon sequestration.
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US designates helium as a critical material, citing its importance for semiconductors – WTOP News
The U.S. designated helium as a critical material on Friday because it’s indispensable for making semiconductors that are essential to energy generation, and the global supply is at risk of disruption, according to the Energy Department. The designation by the Energy Department means that more federal financing will be available for helium producers and that...
US designates helium as a critical material, citing its importance for
The U.S. designated helium as a critical material on Friday because it’s indispensable for making semiconductors that are essential to energy generation, and the global supply is at risk of disruption, according to the Energy Department. The
US designates helium as a critical material, citing its importance for semiconductors
The U.S. government has designated helium as a critical material because it’s indispensable for making semiconductors that are essential to energy generation, and the global supply is at risk of disruption
The US Department of Energy on Friday declared helium a critical material, citing its importance to semiconductors and the risk of disruption to global supplies.
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